plena
UK[ˈpliːnə]US[ˈpliːnə]
n
The plural form of 'plenum', meaning assemblies or gatherings of all members of a group or committee.
n
In physics, spaces or conditions considered to be completely filled with matter.
Morpheme Breakdown
plen
a
plen
full
a
plural suffix
Etymology
The word 'plena' is the direct plural of the Latin noun 'plenum', meaning 'that which is full'. The root plen- descends from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root pele-, meaning 'to fill', which also gave rise to English words like 'full' and 'fill'. In Latin, 'plenum' was used to denote a space entirely filled with matter, in contrast to a vacuum. This technical sense was adopted into English scientific terminology, while the general meaning of a full assembly of members evolved from the idea of a meeting where all seats are filled.
Analysis
Structure: plen (full) + a (plural suffix)
'plen' is from Latin plenus, meaning 'full'. The suffix '-a' is a Latin-derived plural ending used for neuter nouns ending in '-um'.
Examples
The decisions were ratified in the subsequent plena of the central committee.
In classical physics, the concept of plena as opposed to vacuums was a subject of debate.
The minutes from the organization's annual plena are kept in the archive.